The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 98: Reclaim

Chapter 98: Reclaim

She knew her husband well, she could see the shock in his eyes.

The Duke watched his wife from the balcony, his hands clenched tightly around the railing. And that look in her eyes as she glanced at the boy by his side... It sparked something close to fury within him.

Her voice was calm yet ringing through the hall. "But rest assured, I am back. Your Master is back." She emphasised.

Her words were clear and precise, leaving no room for interpretation. The servants straightened, the few whispers between them dying instantly.

The Duke tried hard to remain calm. His plans were disrupted. Why was she all well? He heard of the devastation caused by the illness. How did she get cured so fast?!

His breaths were sharp and quick. He turned to look at his son. Her words were clearly meant for him... What did she know exactly? His eyes narrowed.

"Since you all are already gathered here... I must make an announcement." She looked straight at the Duke and smiled.

She summoned Dimitri who stood aside waiting for his time to come, he didn’t fully understand what was happening but he trusted Adeline. He slowly walked up to the Duchess, there were too many eyes on him... He felt incredibly nervous.

"This is Dimitri, my chosen heir. By the end of the month, I will officially be adopting him."

Her words hung in the air as everyone tried to process this information. What were just rumours turned out to be true! He was going to be their young master.

There were different reactions to this news. Adeline felt a rush of victory as she processed the unfolding situation. Everything was going according to her plan, and she couldn’t help but smile at the thought of it.

Adeline was almost certain that the Duchess understood her husband’s devious ways. The Duchess was a wise woman, someone who had seen enough of the world to recognise betrayal and deceit when she encountered it.

The only problem was the evidence. She needed something concrete.

For an official trial and divorce, she needed evidence to cleanly throw him out of her house. She didn’t know why Adeline was so insistent on getting involved, but since she did, she would let her have her way.

Let this child do the work and bring her evidence, all she needed to do was to play along and watch it unfold. The Duchess sure thought of a lot of things.

There was something about the child that intrigued her, perhaps a spark of determination that reminded her of herself in her youth.

The Duchess had long ago learned the importance of playing the long game in matters of the heart and politics, and she sensed that Adeline was doing just that... Her actions caused her stupid husband to stumble and make mistakes...

There was a certain thrill in the air, a sense of excitement that had been absent for too long. She knew that Adeline’s cleverness could lead them to the truth. The young girl was brave to confront challenges head-on, even if it meant facing the Duke directly.

Those letters would be enough to prove that he was being insubordinate. She had given clear orders to inform the people in the estate about her condition... But he ignored it...

She was waiting for Adeline to make her next move. This child reminded her of herself...

The Duke’s face darkened. He forced himself to maintain control, though his fingers dug into the railing as he gripped it harder. Adopting Dimitri?

She hadn’t even consulted him. Bringing in an outsider to live in the household was one thing, but making him a legal heir was an entirely different matter.

The Duke turned to leave, he didn’t bother with greeting her... He dropped the facade entirely. He was tired of playing the loving husband.

In that moment, a flood of old insecurities resurfaced. He remembered their early years together, when she had taken to her role with natural grace, commanding the respect of all those in their domain.

She’d always been the one with the people’s loyalty, the one the servants revered. Her absence had allowed him to taste the freedom of being the sole authority, but her return threatened to shatter that illusion.

The Duke’s mind raced. Was this her plan all along? To come back with a grand declaration, to show him up in front of everyone?

At the end of the day, he could not even confront her directly. He could only turn and leave. Hiding like a pathetic coward. His eyes were red with anger. There was no turning back from now on.

He will have to go all out.

Everett felt his jaw clenched when he heard the Duchess’s announcement, he needed to take a step back to control himself. He was far more impulsive than his father.

Her words struck him like a slap to the face, and he struggled to keep his composure in front of the gathered servants. He could practically feel their gazes flickering between him and her, assessing, judging.

How dare she do this? This was a role he had prepared for his whole life... This Duchy shouldn’t be hers! It should be his father’s! He was the man of the house, he was the husband!

What a pathetic man his father was. Even after so many chances, this was what he got? His stupid plan foiled leaving what? Nothing but embarrassment. A cowardly, pathetic man.

When his wife announced something this important, instead of confronting her like a man, he cowardly tucked his tail between his legs and left. He was not going to be like his father... He would rather die.

He did not live among commoners for so long for him to end up with nothing. As the Duke’s son, this was his... It had to be.

And now all of this was going towards that b*stard, Dimitri...

Everett’s eyes flickered toward Dimitri, who stood quietly beside her. With this announcement, the Duchess had made clear her intentions to elevate Dimitri, to cement his place within their family, all without even a hint of discussion.

What right did Dimitri have to stand there? Dimitri didn’t deserve the power, the title, the respect that he should have inherited. He was nothing but a stranger but now he was the heir.

Wickedness took over Everett. He planned to do something very sinister, and he didn’t care about the implications. His father was nothing but weak, whatever may happen he was sure that this was the end.

Dimitri was the heir and his father wouldn’t be able to change it... But he will. He didn’t care if his future would be ruined for doing something... Illegal, as long as Dimitri wont have a happy ending.